Jeb Bush, who undoubtedly rode out more hurricanes at the state’s big Emergency Operations Center than any other governor, used to publicly plead with people not to take less-powerful storms lightly.

The difference between a Category 1 storm and a Category 5 hurricane may be a wide range of wind and wave force. It makes a lot of difference for insurance companies and clean-up crews, perhaps.

But for people, it’s like the difference between getting hit by a car going 40 miles an hour or 70 mph. Worst case scenario, you’re just as dead.

The same goes for “only” a sub-tropical storm like we’ve just experienced out in the Florida Panhandle. Alberto might be dismissed as storm lite — an annoying rainy spell of springtime weather — or heeded as a timely reminder of things to come.

We got off easy. The far Panhandle, west of Panama City, bore the brunt of the winds and heavy rains. But there are a few folks in town who won’t soon forget Alberto and the ill winds that spun from it.

Jules Hamilton was asleep when a huge oak came crashing through the roof of her bedroom Monday. A large gash on her head took nine staples during a five-hour hospital stay, but she’ll be all right.

It’s easy to shrug off a “sub-tropical” storm as just a really rainy day. Except for Hamilton and a couple people injured in storm-related car crashes, most Tallahasseeans — even the 750 city utility customers who lost power — got through it in good shape.

Certainly, compared to Hurricane Hermine and some other big blows to hit the Big Bend, we can count ourselves lucky this time.

But Alberto was a timely reminder that hurricane season starts today — along with the sales tax “holiday” period for buying a long list of emergency supplies. State, county and city preparedness officials say they’re ready, and utility crews showed they could handle scattered outages caused by the storm.

The experts say we’re in for a comparatively light to moderate hurricane season, but you never know. Big Bend residents would be well-advised to prepare for the worst — now — and keep a healthy respect for even “just” a tropical storm.

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A wreath placed at the Vietnam Memorial was blown over by heavy winds brought about by Subtropical Storm Alberto on Monday. The storm made for a wet Memorial Day weekend and hampered the plans for many around the Big Bend area. Andrew Salinero/Democrat

The flag of the State of Florida sways in the gusts outside the Ralph D. Turlington Florida Education Center as Subtropical Storm Alberto prepares to make landfall on the Gulf Coast. Andrew Salinero/Democrat

Subtropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, is anticipated to make landfall early Monday morning along the shores of Florida's panhandle. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts of up to 50mph to the Big Bend area. Andrew Salinero/Democrat

City of Tallahassee Utility workers respond to a power outage on Lake Bradford road near Gerald Drive caused by a fallen tree branch, which left some 165 customers without power on Monday morning. Andrew Salinero/Democrat

An American flag wraps around the radio antenna on a City of Tallahassee utility truck on Lake Bradford Road. The storm made for a wet Memorial Day weekend and hampered the plans for many around the Big Bend area. Andrew Salinero/Democrat

Subtropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, is anticipated to make landfall early Monday morning along the shores of Florida's panhandle. Andrew Salinero/Democrat